The staggered opening of the new section will complete a road that has been awaited for decades, providing another way to travel between Interstates 10 and 35 on the North Side and adding a critical link to U.S. 281.

“Wurzbach is a huge traffic reliever, and it can’t open soon enough,” said District 9 City Councilman Joe Krier, whose district encompasses the last section of the parkway. “The big hurdle has been jumping over 281, and we’re all thrilled that it finally got accomplished with only (a few) days of 281 being shut down.”

The eastbound and westbound lanes are opening at different times so drivers can become familiar with how to use the new section. Heading west, the parkway changes from a higher-speed through route to a street with traffic lights between Northwest Military Highway and I-10. City officials are concerned that the shift from faster to slower speeds could catch westbound drivers off-guard. The city is working with the Texas Department of Transportation to educate the public about the transition.

“We have school zones, significant congestion during rush hour, residential neighborhoods, pedestrians and bus stops,” said Mike Frisbie, director of the city’s transportation and capital improvements department. “Drivers need to recognize this is a totally different type of street when it gets to Northwest Military westbound.”

When the westbound lanes open, the city plans to monitor the flow of traffic between Northwest Military and I-10 and adjust traffic signal timing if necessary. In the city’s 2016 budget, the City Council allocated $1 million for traffic signal improvement on that part of the parkway, and TxDOT also agreed to set aside $1 million for that purpose, Frisbie said.

The parkway is opening slightly ahead of schedule because the Houston-based company heading construction has worked quickly to finish the project in order to start another in early October, said Josh Donat, a TxDOT spokesman.

But there is still work to be done. A turnaround at Nakoma Drive, built to help drivers switch between the parkway and U.S. 281, will be completed in early October. Until then, drivers will have to use the traffic lights at the Nakoma intersection. When the eastbound lanes open Tuesday, that temporary detour will affect anyone traveling from the parkway to northbound U.S. 281 and from southbound U.S. 281 to the parkway.

“Don’t expect a quick turnaround,” Donat said. “It will take a little time to get through there.”

The development of Wurzbach Parkway.

Work will continue on the parkway throughout the month as workers lay sod and put final touches on road markings.

“When drivers are using those new roadway lanes, it will be important to pay attention to roadway crews,” Donat said.